In our Remotely webinar on Collaborative Productivity, we explored what it is, why it’s important, how to improve it, and why we believe it is the antidote to the challenges presented by remote work. In our first publication of this work, we discuss the need for expanding trust, and the power from creating a collaboration map of where, when, and how team members communicate and collaborate with each other.
Collaborative productivity is how easily people are able to work effectively together to produce more value. Some measure this by revenue per employee, but there are numerous other indicators of non-financial value that also are meaningful. For us, it is the mindsets and methods necessary for high-performance remote teams to get the most value created with the least amount of resources and effort. Put another way, it is about taking a mindful approach to making it easier for people to get things done, with less stress, in less time.
All too often, projects and programs miss their deadlines, have cost overruns, and fail to accomplish their objectives. This is the result of a failure to properly optimize how teams work together. Our solution is to create a clearly defined collaboration map — establishing clear roles and standard operating procedures for how teams will work together, under what terms, and the expectations for communications.
We believe that an intentional focus on improving collaborative productivity is the solution to the challenges of remote work. They are intrinsically linked. In this preview of our approach, you will begin to see how we can work better with others and even a glimpse into how to lead high performing remote teams. We also discuss the importance of alignment, accountability, and agility, presenting a new approach to teaming.
This is all in an effort to establish that RemoteReady means being:
- Trustworthy
- Reliable
- Communicative
- Capable
- Clear
- Agile
- Emotionally Intelligent
- Self Managing
- and Fully Human
Our goal with the RemoteReady training programs and workshops is to provide you with a framework for improving your collaborative productivity, your well-being, and your ability to accomplish more in a fulfilling way. Many of these solutions have been around for years, but we have been going too fast to implement them, to do what we know is right. With the shift to remote work — whether full time in a distributed company or within a hybrid home and office work situation — it is imperative to figure it out and work differently with each other. We need to work more effectively with each other with less wasted energy.
The Core RemoteReady Framework:
Context: Clearly define our shared purpose, what we are doing, and why. Not only for the whole of the team or project, but for each meeting, for each interaction between team members, and for our work alone.
Connections: As they say, we need the right people, for the right jobs, at the right time.
Clarity: Of communications, expectations, and responsibilities.
Collaboration: Systems for single sources of truth and the current status of all efforts and resources. With a common language, common tools, and common objectives.
Commitments: Keeping them first and foremost, to maintain social harmony and trust between team members. Trust and the degree of social connectivity amongst the team is the best accelerant of collaborative productivity. Or in other words, doing what we say we are going to do, and communicating when we can’t as early as possible is paramount so that the entire team may invest their energy appropriately and effectively 99.999% of the team on what matters most.
Completion: Setting clear expectations for what ‘painting it done’ looks like and taking the time to review what was done, and how everyone can improve the next time.
There is so much more than this as we explain in this webinar which is available [on demand] for our members.
LEARN MORE ABOUT COLLABORATIVE PRODUCTIVITY
To get access to the full hour-long explanation, join Remotely’s professional development network. It is only $10 per month, or you can save 50% off any annual membership using code “ChrisHeuer50off.” Once you join, you will have access to our growing library of insights on how to make remote work for everyone, our member community, the discussions we have on remote work, and our other webinars, past, and future. With our premium membership level, the Leadership Circle, you can take part in weekly office hours where you can seek my help answering your questions and solving your challenges, as well as talking with other remote leaders.